Match report

Match report

The crowd experienced Vivaldi’s Four Seasons before the game even started as the Hahndorf supporters milled around the sectioned off Gold Class section of the grand stand at Summit Sports & Recreation Park for the round 15 match-up of Hahndorf vs Mount Barker United Blue. Mt Barker United started the game with the fist kick off and Hahndorf pushed the ball into their forward line early. Mount Barker crowded their back half to prevent the early goal by Hahndorf. But Hahndorf didn’t have long to wait before a quick pass from Xander Romaldi to Toby Thomas who then crossed the ball to Jesse Powell who was able to make the conversion for the first goal of the half. It didn’t take long for Oscar Johnson to score the next goal for Hahndorf.

Hahndorf’s strong starting back line of Johnson, Angus Mifsud, Rhys Davies and Elwin Aylen, and Will Viller and Liam Sickerdick in mid-field, provided good support to goal keeper, Tom “the man with the golden hands” Boekel, keeping Mt Barker scoreless through the first half. Quarter time saw a changeover of players where Luca Cannavo and Zara Tinsley-Smith moved into the back line to offer support, and Cameron Norris and Jensen Norris moved onto the wing. An immediate impact was felt on the field as the tempo of the game picked up immediately with several near misses at goals by Hahndorf following very soon after. Some great team work ensured that the first half ended with everyone on the team having a touch of the ball.

The second half saw most of the play in the forward half for Hahndorf, who added another 10 goals to their score. Nine players from Hahndorf contributed to the final score, including Hakim Herriman who scored his second goal in two weeks, and Jensen Norris who added another two goals. The backline tried to get in on the goal action with Tinsley-Smith and Aylen both making attempts up forward to get the ball near the back of the net.

Some great playing throughout the game by Hakim Herriman and Jensen Norris when they were on the field demonstrating the skills and confidence that they have developed throughout the season. The game ended with a celebratory dance from J Norris after scoring his second goal for the game, cheered on by the appreciative crowd. Six players scored multiple shots including Thomas scoring a hat-trick; Powell, J Norris, Mitchell Stibley, Romaldi and Sickerdick all scoring two goals each; and Herriman and Oscar scoring one goal each.

Highlights of the game included the crowd getting revved up as a ute doing a burn-out provided some excitement near the end of the first half; the crowd starting up a chant for Elwin Aylen to encourage his performance in the backline in the second half; the celebration dance of Jensen Norris after kicking his second goal of the game as the crowd cheered him on; AND the Hahndorf crowd offering thanks for their true demonstration of good sportsmanship during the game with a standing ovation for the Mt Barker United team as they left the field. Special mention needs to be made for the Mt Barker United goalie who truly demonstrated the virtues of gamesmanship and allowed Hakim and Jensen to enjoy kicking goals during the game despite his own team being goalless.